The scale of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa is emerging, with dozens of people known to have died in Haiti and four deaths reported in Jamaica - and the storm is now approaching the Bahamas.

At first light on Wednesday, the coastal communities of southwestern Jamaica bore the devastation of being in the direct path of Hurricane Melissa.

Hurricane Melissa has hit southwestern Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, causing heavy flooding and wind damage.

Their building was left untouched, but outdoor seating was torn apart, including a sunshade that was also stolen by the tornado.

North Texas is on alert for high-impact storms this weekend with primary concerns being widespread flooding, gusty winds, hail, and a slight risk of tornadoes in western areas.

Before the storm barreled north over Cuba, at least seven people died across the Caribbean as the storm approached Jamaica. See the storm's impact on Cuba.

A flood watch is in effect for much of the surrounding counties as heavy storms will begin to move into the Houston area. See live radar, the latest weather alerts and the timeline for storms.

A flood watch has been posted for most of Central Florida until 7 p.m. Widespread showers will start rolling through at around 2 p.m. The areas that will see the greatest impact are Lake County, western Orange County, and northern Brevard County.